A Thunder fan roots for his team as they take on Dallas during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
The Wichita Eagle

The Thunder's Russel Westbrook, Eric Maynor, James Harden and Daequan Cook joke around during the warmups with their game with Dallas during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Eric Maynor high-fives some Boy Scouts before their pre-season game with Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant gets introduced to the crowd before heir game with Dallas during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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The Thunder's Nick Collison (4) and Kevin Durant defend against Dallas' Jae Crowder (9) in the 2nd period at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant warms up before their NBA pre-season game with Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Fans get some shots of their favorite stars before the OKC-Dallas game during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant enjoys himself during the warm up of their NBA pre-season game against Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Fans get pictures of Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant during their NBA pre-season game with Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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A couple of KU fans enjoy themselves during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's mascot "Rumble" gets the crowd going during their NBA pre-season game with Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kendrick perkins )5) shoots over Dallas' Elton Brand (42) in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) and Russell Westbrook go up to blcok Dallas' Darren Collison's (4) shot in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against Dallas in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket gainst Dallas' Darren Colliosn (4) in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) pulls up for a sot aainst Dalas in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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The Thunder girls enertain the crowd during a break during their NBA pre-season game against Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Ruseell Westbrrok dunks a alley-oop in the 1st period against Dallas during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Nick Collison dunks the ball during the 2nd period against Dallas in their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant dunks the ball against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2nd period during their pre-season game at Intrust bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
AP

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant congratualtes his teammates as the start to pull away from Dllas in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's James Harden gets fouled by Dallas' O.J. Mayo in the 2nd period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Nick Collison goes up for two against Dallas' Brenard James in the 2nd period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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The Thunder drummers entertain the crowd during their NBA pre-season game with Dallas at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9) dunks the ball against Dallas in the 1st period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Dallas' Delonte West, left, battles for a ball with Oklahoma City's James harden, right, in the 4th period during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City's Perry Jones (3) battles for a ball with Dallas' Dominque Jones (20) in the 4th quarter during their NBA pre-season game at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas Wednesday. (Oct. 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's Nick Collison signs autographs for fans at Intrust Bank Arena before their exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks. (October 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's James Harden made a three-point goal in the second quarter and then points to a group of young boys who cheered for him to make a three during their exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. (October 24, 2012)
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Dallas Mavericks' Dominique Jones dunks the ball against Oklahoma City during an exhibition game at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Dallas Mavericks' Delonte West dribbles into the paint against Oklahoma City during an exhibition game at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's James Harden scrambles for the ball with a couple of Dallas Mavericks at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. (October 24, 2012)
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The crowd at its feet during the national anthem before the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks exhibition game at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Dallas Mavericks' Darren Collison scores two point against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's Eric Maynor, James Harden and Lazar Hayward watch a highlight video from last season before their game against Dallas at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant is announced as the beginning of the game against Dallas at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder's starting lineup is announced as the beginning of the game against Dallas at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder high-fives Cub Scouts before the start of their game against Dallas at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
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Oklahoma City Thunder's James Harden high-fives Cub Scouts before the start of their game against Dallas at Intrust Bank Arena. (October 24, 2012)
The Wichita Eagle

SMG gave Sedgwick County a check for $253,260 on Wednesday for its share of profit last year at Intrust Bank Arena.

Arena general manager A.J. Boleski presented an oversized check to Commissioner Chairman Jim Skelton and County Manager William Buchanan, who joyfully accepted it.

“It’s very pleasing to everyone here when someone brings us money instead of asks for it,” Skelton said.

The arena brought in $703,260 last year in net building income.

“It was a very successful year. We’re glad to have a good partner in the county,” Boleski told commissioners.

The county has a unique agreement with SMG, which manages the arena. SMG agreed to absorb any losses. SMG keeps the first $450,000 of profit; the next $450,000 goes to the county. After the $900,000 mark, 60 percent of profits go to the county and 40 percent to SMG.

The arena made $2 million and change in its first year, 2010, and gave the county a check the next year for $1,116,442.

That level of profit hasn’t been repeated. In 2011, the arena netted $389,659. That meant the county didn’t receive any check from SMG last year.

The first quarter of this year brought in about $428,000 less in net building income than it did for the same time period last year, assistant county manager Ron Holt reported to commissioners Wednesday.

That’s despite the fact that there were seven more events during that timeframe compared with last year, Holt said.

The average price of tickets sold was down, affecting revenue.

The average price per ticket sold for the first quarter of this year was $19.41. That compares with $22.95 for the first quarter last year. In 2010, the average cost per ticket sold was $38.40. The lower per-ticket-sold average stems from fewer concerts compared with previous years. Concerts the first quarter of the arena’s opening year included Elton John and Billy Joel and Bon Jovi. The arena’s first event was a concert by Brad Paisley, who returned last year.

First-quarter events this year included Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam,” Wichita Thunder hockey games, the Harlem Globetrotters and performances by Sesame Street. Tickets for Thunder games are markedly lower than concert ticket prices. Kid Rock played the arena Feb. 10, and the average cost per ticket sold was $49.83. The average cost of a Thunder ticket the first quarter of this year was $10.21, records show.

Intrust Bank Arena earlier this year announced it was ranked 40th for 2012 among entertainment venues of comparable size by Pollstar, a publication that focuses on the concert industry. The arena ranked 77th worldwide.

“Our goal is to be a Top 25 building,” Boleski told commissioners. Boleski said the arena’s third quarter looks good with performances by Taylor Swift, whose Aug. 6 concert has sold out as well as country musicians Rascal Flatts on Aug. 9 and Luke Bryan on Sept. 12.

The arena also has scheduled two sporting events in the fourth quarter that promise big crowds. The Oklahoma City Thunder is scheduled to play the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 23, and Kansas State University is scheduled to play Gonzaga University on Dec. 21.